Heritage Insurance Company Tanzania has announced the appointment of Japhet Valerian to the CFO position, effective June 2024.
With a robust background in finance, Japhet brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role, promising to drive the company's financial strategy and growth.
Heritage Tanzania is a subsidiary of The Heritage Insurance Kenya, which has 60 percent ownership of the company with the remaining shares held by a local Tanzanian entity, MAC Group. Heritage Kenya is a subsidiary of South Africa’s Standard Bank Group.
Japhet's journey to this significant appointment is marked by a blend of rigorous academic preparation and practical experience. He is currently pursuing an MBA at Chuo Kikuu Mzumbe, a programme he embarked on in March 2023 and is expected to complete by November 2024. Complementing his advanced studies, Japhet is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), accredited by the National Board of Accountants and Auditors of Tanzania (NBAA). His foundational academic pursuit was a BSc. in actuarial sciences from the University of Dar es Salaam, which he completed in 2014.
Before his current appointment, Japhet demonstrated his leadership capabilities in various capacities at Heritage Insurance. He served as the acting CFO from December 2023 to June 2024, a period during which he managed key financial operations and strategic planning. Prior to that, he was the head of finance operations and reporting from January 2023 to May 2024, where he oversaw corporate finance, budgeting and forecasting.
Japhet's career began at EY Tanzania, where he honed his skills in auditing and financial management. Starting as an audit assistant in September 2014, he quickly rose to the position of senior auditor, a role he held until February 2019. His tenure at EY was marked by his involvement in audit management and communication, laying a solid foundation for his subsequent roles in the finance sector.
In addition to his tenure at Heritage Insurance and EY Tanzania, Japhet's early career included a brief stint as a temporary data clerk at EngenderHealth in early 2014 and as an operations officer at Alliance Life Assurance in 2013. These roles provided him with valuable insights into data management and operational efficiencies, further enriching his professional profile.
